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Commercial Building Permit in Edmonds, Washington

Required for commercial construction, alterations and additions in Edmonds, reviewed under the 2021 IBC as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council and by Chapter 19.00 ECDC.

Verified 2026-09-16 · Source

When you need this permit

  • Reviewed under the 2021 IBC (ECDC 19.00.020) with Appendix Chapters E, G, H, I, J and P
  • Projects subject to Architectural Design Board review may file an “augmented ADB application” under ECDC 19.00.030 to vest building permit, development and impact fees early
  • Phased approval for grading, shoring and foundation is available under ECDC 19.00.025(M), but only after ADB approval and only on approved civil plans signed by the city engineer, with a performance bond posted under Chapter 17.10 ECDC
  • Address numerals must be at least 6 inches high with a stroke of at least .75 inch, in a colour contrasting the building base (ECDC 19.00.025(P))
  • Buildings destroyed or damaged “in an amount equal to 75 percent or more of its replacement cost” are reconstructed as new construction (ECDC 19.00.045)

Required documents

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Fee schedule

Building permit
ECDC 19.70 is titled “Fees” and contains no monetary figure. Show full citationECDC 19.70 is titled “Fees” and contains no monetary figure. Its five live sections were opened in full this session: 19.70.010 states “Fee schedules are on file in the city clerk’s office.” while 19.70.010(C) and 19.70.020 both state the amounts are “set forth in this chapter” — a cross-reference that points at its own chapter and is wrong. The one pointer that leaves the chapter, ECDC 15.00.020(A), was also opened in full and ends outside the code: “Fees are established by resolution of the city council and can be accessed at the following hyperlink: Development Fees.” No dollar amount is therefore published in the Edmonds code, and none is asserted here.
Set by council resolution; not in code
Plan reviewECDC 19.70.010(A). Note ECDC 19.00.030(B)(4): applicant-initiated changes made after the original plan review is complete “shall also require payment of full plan review fees”.
Plan review: a percentage of permit fee
Work started before permit issuesECDC 19.70.020 imposes a violation compliance fee, set by the building official under the city's resolution-adopted fee schedule, in addition to the required permit fees. It “shall be collected whether or not a permit is then or subsequently issued.” The code states no amount.
Set by council resolution; not in code
Permit extension (third year)ECDC 19.00.025(K)(3). The building official may reject an extension where code amendments since issuance “would significantly promote public health and safety if applied to the project through the issuance of a new permit.”
3rd-year renewal: 25% of original fee

Review timeline

Plan review
Not published — contact the department

How long did your Commercial Building Permit permit actually take in Edmonds?

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Inspection process

    See the full Edmonds inspection guide — scheduling & re-inspection fees →

    Tips

    • If your project goes to the Architectural Design Board, read ECDC 19.00.030 before you file anything. The augmented ADB application vests your fees and code rights at filing rather than at building permit submittal — but the vested rights expire with the application six months later if final design approval has not landed.
    • Watch what counts as a “minor” change after ADB approval. ECDC 19.00.030(B)(4) says any increase in height or total square footage, or any change to the occupancy classification, forfeits vesting outright and forces a brand-new application.
    • Concurrent review is allowed but the risk is yours: ECDC 19.00.025(J) lets you run plan review alongside a discretionary permit, and then makes you “solely responsible for any and all costs which result” if conditions later force the plans to change, including additional full plan review fees.

    Frequently asked questions

    Edmonds requires a commercial building permit for: Reviewed under the 2021 IBC (ECDC 19.00.020) with Appendix Chapters E, G, H, I, J and P; Projects subject to Architectural Design Board review may file an “augmented ADB application” under ECDC 19.00.030 to vest building permit, development and impact fees early; Phased approval for grading, shoring and foundation is available under ECDC 19.00.025(M), but only after ADB approval and only on approved civil plans signed by the city engineer, with a performance bond posted under Chapter 17.10 ECDC; Address numerals must be at least 6 inches high with a stroke of at least .75 inch, in a colour contrasting the building base (ECDC 19.00.025(P)); Buildings destroyed or damaged “in an amount equal to 75 percent or more of its replacement cost” are reconstructed as new construction (ECDC 19.00.045). If your project isn't listed, confirm with City of Edmonds Planning and Development Department – Building Division at (425) 775-2525 before starting work.

    In Edmonds, the published Building permit is: Set by council resolution; not in code. Additional published fees: Plan review — Plan review: a percentage of permit fee; Work started before permit issues — Set by council resolution; not in code; Permit extension (third year) — 3rd-year renewal: 25% of original fee. These are the jurisdiction's own published figures — see the fee schedule table and source citations on this page.

    Edmonds does not publish a plan-review timeline for this permit. Contact City of Edmonds Planning and Development Department – Building Division at (425) 775-2525 for current turnaround.

    You'll need: Fully Complete Building Permit Application; Plans and Specifications (IBC Section 107). Depending on your project, Edmonds may also ask for: Architectural Design Board Approval; Performance Bond or Frozen Fund. See the required-documents checklist on this page for details on each.

    Apply through City of Edmonds Planning and Development Department – Building Division at 121 5th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020. Phone: (425) 775-2525. Official information: https://www.edmondswa.gov/.

    The 2021 International Building Code. ECDC 19.00.020 adopts it “as amended by the Washington State Building Code Council in Chapter 51-50 WAC, and as subsequently amended by this chapter … along with Appendix Chapters E, G, H, I, J and P.” Chapter 19.00 then makes roughly thirty numbered local amendments, including a redefined high-rise threshold, a 25 psf minimum design roof snow load, and a locally written demolition permit section.

    Yes, under conditions. ECDC 19.00.025(M) allows the building official to issue partial permits for phased construction — grading, shoring and foundation may be permitted separately — but only where architectural design board approval has been granted, a fully complete application for the entire structure has been submitted, the planning manager, city engineer and fire marshal concur where applicable, approved civil plans covering all site improvements are signed by the city engineer, and a performance bond is posted under Chapter 17.10 ECDC.

    Sources & verification

    Verified against official sources. Last reviewed 2026-09-16.

    Fee schedules

    Codes & ordinances

    Fees, timelines, and adopted codes are researched from each jurisdiction's published records — see how we verify. Requirements change and vary by project, so always confirm the current details with the Edmonds building department before you submit. PermitBase is an independent reference and is not affiliated with any government agency.

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